Daily Sports quotes Nobuhiko Takada today as stating that PRIDE will return in Japan on October 11th, which is the 10th anniversary of the promotion’s first event (10/11/1997 at the Tokyo Dome with Takada vs. Rickson Gracie). He promised to deliver an all-star cast of fighters for the event. Whether he is referring to an actual show or a memorial event is unclear.

Takada denied the rumors of a PRIDE-style event on August 18th at Saitama Super Arena, stating that Hustle would hold an event in Nagoya on the same date.

The comments were made at a PR session (alongside his wife Aki Mukai) at a Tokyo area high school.

Meanwhile, Weekly Pro is reporting that Kiyoshi Tamura will work on the IGF debut show next week in Tokyo at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

12 Responses to “Takada: PRIDE will return on 10/11”

Takada talking about Pride and a new show 10 years to the day of the birth at the company…and doing all of this at a press conference with his wife at the local high school? Seems weird to say the least.

Well didnt they say that Takada would remain with Zuffa-owned-Pride?
so i dont think the fact that takada is making this announcement really means that the sale didnt go through.

But having Takada work for DSE (via hustle) and Zuffa-Pride is pretty bizarre. Especially if Sakakibara is still with DSE, because then Takada can just relate all internal pride-related news back to him.

From what Lorenzo and Frank and Dana have said in interviews, I dont think they want to completely dismantle PRIDE. They created a holdings group to acquire the organization, and Dana himself has expressed intereset in running shows in East Asia.

But as far as fighters fighting in both promotions – yeah, that is unlikely. I know I personally cant afford $80 in PPVs.